Disneyland Paris resort has started 2019 with a new leader. Natacha Rafalski was appointed to the position of Présidente in mid-December, replacing Catherine Powell.
Rafalski (pictured) has a 23-year career with The Walt Disney Company, holding a variety of senior leadership positions throughout the world. She joined the Disneyland Paris team in 2017 as chief financial officer and since then has taken on responsibility for real estate, transformation, corporate alliances and operating participants.
“It is a very exciting time for Disneyland Paris as we continue to transform our organisation and move forward with the expansion of our resort,” says Powell, who was promoted to president of the Disney Parks Western Region in March 2018. This gives her responsibility for the Paris resort in addition to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.
Rafalski will now be lead a multinational team of 16,000 Disney ‘Cast Members’ in Paris as she oversees two theme parks, eight hotels, a 27-hole golf course and the Disney Village, dining, entertainment and shopping destination. In her new role, she will also spearhead the ambitious expansion of The Walt Disney Studios Park, announced last year.
“I am incredibly honoured and excited to assume this position at such a transformational time for the resort,” says Rafalski. “France holds a special place in my heart, and I’m looking forward to leading and growing the business as we continue to build on and expand the promise of Europe’s top tourist destination.”
Prior to joining the Disneyland Paris team, Rafalski was CFO for The Walt Disney Company Greater China, headquartered in Shanghai. She began her career with Disney in 1995 and has held various positions in corporate treasury and finance including a key role on the Shanghai Disney Resort negotiation team.